The Latest

NICU

April 22 (afternoon/evening)
So, here's the latest news of the day...

NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) came by today to drop a bomb I hadn't even thought about.

Jimmy is measuring as small as 30 weeks. He must be at least 4 lbs. to jump the first hoop of avoiding the NICU. If he is less than 4 lbs., he must stay in NICU until he reaches that weight. The other factors that will place him in NICU are: breathing difficulties or other visceral abnormalities.

They told me that I shouldn't expect to bring him home with me in a week, but that coming home somewhere in the arena of 2 weeks before his original due date or 2 weeks after is more common. There is a chance he could come out at 4 lbs, and have great lungs...no other major health problems etc. and we could take him home. Worst case is he's not 4 lbs., has visceral issues and I'll have to pump milk and come several times a day for feeding and bonding until he reaches the doctor's opinion of dischargement. (is that even a word??) They said if he meets the criteria for NICU, I will not be able to hold him after the delivery, he will go straight to NICU, I will not be able to nurse him, but will have to try to pump and store milk for the subsequent days of his recovery. The first day, he'd likely be on some juiced up milk concoction that will help him gain plenty of weight.

It is definitely a challenge, hearing all of these thing and thinking of the worst and best cases. I'm trying my best to think positively. I constantly feel like I'm giving Jimmy pep talks to take every calorie in my body to help him gain weight, and use those steroids to get his lungs up to par.

This morning I was studying the scriptures and came across a quote that made thinking negatively, not so negative. I was crying by the end of the quote and still hoping this to not be the case, but nonetheless, this is what I read...I read a quote today by Joseph Smith who was contemplating why infants are taken so early sometimes, and it said:

• "The Lord takes many away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again."

What a comforting insight to the Lord's will and wisdom.

Otherwise, the test and lab results that were taken yesterday have come back negatively, which is great news, but also expected news. I don't have any tumors, cancers, aneurysms, diseases, or otherwise harmful issues to Jimmy. The results that came back positively will be able to be addressed post-pardum and affect only me, not the baby. Yay!!

Yesterday was a huge day of getting things in order for a more comfortable stay in the hospital, for instance, finding the right medications for the problems I do have...like the headaches, restless leg syndrome, fibromyalgia and the other chronic pain issues. Today has been a much more restful day, and after Brian brings me the things from home to keep me super busy, this should be a restful and productive stay in the hospital. We are fortunate to have such good care here at Winnie Palmer, and to have reduced the majority of contractions. With the Lord's help and if it is his will, Jimmy will be here no sooner than Monday!!

Thank you all again for your support, phone calls, and prayers...I so appreciate them all!

I'll let you know if anything else changes tomorrow :)

love,

terrah